Yachting New Zealand is delighted to announce a new partnership with SLAM Advanced Technology Sportswear which will see the New Zealand Sailing Team performing to their peak and looking their best in SLAM's high performance garments.

SLAM is a company that is world renowned for their innovative and extensive development in technology of fabrics and designs, making them the perfect choice as Yachting New Zealand's Official Clothing Supplier.

Yachting New Zealand is excited about the partnership which extends through until the 2012 Olympic Games. New Zealand's elite sailors, campaigning towards the Olympic Sailing Regatta in Weymouth, England, will wear SLAM Advanced Technology Sportswear both on and off the water.

Meeting over the weekend in Auckland were Yachting New Zealand's Chief Executive, Des Brennan and Olympic Programme Manager, Jez Fanstone together with SLAM's Chief Executive, Mr Andrea Laura of Italy. New Zealand Partners for SLAM sportswear Emma Hendy and George Hendy were there to make the introductions and finalise the partnership.

"The opportunities for Yachting New Zealand and SLAM are both domestic and international," says Des Brennan. "The New Zealand Sailing Team will wear customised sportswear reflecting the highest elements of technology and fashion." "SLAM is a global producer of sailing gear based in Italy, a country renowned for its world-leading designers," says Brennan. "Yachting New Zealand competes successfully on the world stage in sailing, and this partnership with SLAM will enhance brand exposure and involve our sailors as important contributors to the design process."

"On the domestic front, Yachting New Zealand will wear the SLAM brand. A retail line of sailing gear will be developed by SLAM bearing the 'NZL Sailing' brand logo. This will appropriately replicate the 'NZL Sailing Team' gear," Brennan explains.

"Yachting New Zealand is delighted to be partnering with SLAM and sees a strong and mutually beneficial commercial future together." Also present at the weekend meeting was 2008 Olympic Gold Medallist Tom Ashley who offered to act as a conduit between the sailing team and SLAM's technical designers.

The NZL Sailing Team will gather together soon to view and try on SLAM's current range of gear and over time their feedback and input will contribute towards the development of a custom uniform for the team designed to meet the specific demands of Olympic class sailing.

Emma Hendy of SLAM New Zealand is also excited about the prospect of this country's Olympic class sailors wearing their technical and casual sportswear.

"It is a huge honour for us to have been granted the opportunity to work with a prestigious organization such as Yachting New Zealand and some of New Zealand's most elite athletes," says Emma Hendy.

"The opportunities that have become available to both SLAM and Yachting New Zealand in relation to this partnership are extensive - we are very excited to get the design ball rolling and to start the process of creating the ultimate NZL Sailing Range".

Olympic Programme Manager Jez Fanstone believes that, "the development of the technical gear from SLAM will add to the performance of our sailors. This partnership will enhance brand exposure and involve our sailors as important contributors to the design process."

It is the vision of SLAM, that this ultimate sailing range will become available to fans of the New Zealand Olympic Sailing Team.